Actor Lane Garrison has avoided jail time by striking a plea deal with prosecutors over domestic violence allegations.

The former Prison Break star was arrested last April on a charge of misdemeanour domestic violence following a bust-up with his ex-girlfriend Ashley Mattingly at her home in Beverly Hills, California.

He was released on bail, and on Friday he pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles court. The judge credited him for time served after his arrest and he was handed three years unsupervised probation.

He is also required to attend 52 domestic violence classes and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The sentence included eight hours of community service and a $400 donation to America's Domestic Violence Fund.

Garrison has also been ordered to stay away from Mattingly.

The actor's lawyer Harland Braun tells E! Online, "The main thing now is that he can work anywhere in the country. There is no restriction on him. When he got out of prison, they wouldn't let him leave the state, which essentially ended his career. He was very happy to get it all behind him."